Wildcats score 6 in sixth to rally past Pirates in softball

Richlands’ Madison Batchelor tries to slide under the tag of Swansboro catcher Lexi May during the fourth inning of the Wildcats’ 8-6 softball win over the Pirates on Friday night. Batchelor was called out, but Richlands still prevailed after scoring six runs in the sixth inning.

Maria Sestito/The Daily News

By Chris Miller-Chris.Miller@JDNews.com

Published: Saturday, May 3, 2014 at 09:00 AM.

SWANSBORO – Seemingly defeated, Richlands’ softball team put forth a huge late rally Friday night to play spoiler against Swansboro.

The Wildcats scored six runs in the top of the sixth inning – all with two outs – to come back from a five-run deficit en route to an 8-6 victory over the Pirates, who were looking to clinch the Coastal 3-A Conference title outright with a win.

Richlands trailed 6-1 following a four-run fifth inning by Swansboro. However, with two outs in the sixth the Wildcats strung together six hits in the inning, including Christa Kaldens’ two-run double that gave Richlands a 7-6 lead.

“I had already planned, when we were down so many, that I might have to say our team really never got off the bus, but then they pulled it out,” Richlands coach Mark Lunceford said. “That was their will. They’ve showed me time after time how they can come back and win tight games. I think I’m more proud of that than any other thing.”

As a result of the victory, Richlands (15-5, 7-4) solidified its chances for one of the conference’s four automatic bids to the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs.

It also marked the Wildcats’ second consecutive win over the Pirates, with their previous victory – an 8-3 decision – coming in the Piggly Wiggly Softball Classic in Richlands last month, which was considered a nonconference game.

Meanwhile, Swansboro (15-3, 10-1), which beat the Wildcats 8-6 in the teams’ first meeting this season, suffered its first league defeat, and will have to wait until Thursday’s game at West Carteret for another shot at securing the conference title.

Rachel Pierce got things started in the sixth for Richlands with a single before she moved to second on an infield hit by Madison Batchelor. Pierce then scored on a single by Taylor Martin before Kelly Huffman followed with a two-run double.

After Monica Mayville reached on an error, scoring Huffman, Kylee Tucker had an infield hit. Kaldens then came up, hitting a 3-1 pitch to right-center field to bring in two runs and give the Wildcats a 7-6 lead.

“I knew that with three balls that I wanted to hit it,” Kaldens said. “I just swung and got lucky I guess.”

Kaldens, a junior, finished 2-for-3.

“Christa has come through for us so many times in clutch situations,” Lunceford said. “She goes in a slump like any other batter, but usually when I need a good hit and she’s in the lineup, I don’t worry.”

Huffman added an RBI-single in the seventh to extend Richlands’ lead to 8-6. The sixth inning, however, was certainly the difference.

“That one inning killed us,” Frank said. “What’s hard is that there were two outs. We just needed that last one.”

Down 8-6, the Pirates tried to rally as Sydney Dombrowski – who went 4-for-4 – singled with one out in the seventh. The next batter, though, flied to Batchelor, who threw to first to double off Dombrowski to end the game.

“They (the Wildcats) are good players and they don’t quit,” Lunceford said. “Just a few good things can generate a lot of good things.”

Swansboro had control of the game following a four-run fifth that put the Pirates ahead 6-1. Dombrowski had an RBI-double that inning that saw Richlands commit two errors.

Earlier in the game, Swansboro’s Andrea Heredia had a two-run single in the fourth that gave the Pirates a 2-1 lead.

“It usually takes us a few innings to get going,” Frank said. “I think we got adjusted to the pitcher.”

But the Wildcats answered with a big inning of their own, which ultimately proved the difference.

“This is a very big win,” Kaldens said. “It makes us think that we can just about beat anyone.”

SWANSBORO – Seemingly defeated, Richlands’ softball team put forth a huge late rally Friday night to play spoiler against Swansboro.

The Wildcats scored six runs in the top of the sixth inning – all with two outs – to come back from a five-run deficit en route to an 8-6 victory over the Pirates, who were looking to clinch the Coastal 3-A Conference title outright with a win.

Richlands trailed 6-1 following a four-run fifth inning by Swansboro. However, with two outs in the sixth the Wildcats strung together six hits in the inning, including Christa Kaldens’ two-run double that gave Richlands a 7-6 lead.

“I had already planned, when we were down so many, that I might have to say our team really never got off the bus, but then they pulled it out,” Richlands coach Mark Lunceford said. “That was their will. They’ve showed me time after time how they can come back and win tight games. I think I’m more proud of that than any other thing.”

As a result of the victory, Richlands (15-5, 7-4) solidified its chances for one of the conference’s four automatic bids to the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs.

It also marked the Wildcats’ second consecutive win over the Pirates, with their previous victory – an 8-3 decision – coming in the Piggly Wiggly Softball Classic in Richlands last month, which was considered a nonconference game.

Meanwhile, Swansboro (15-3, 10-1), which beat the Wildcats 8-6 in the teams’ first meeting this season, suffered its first league defeat, and will have to wait until Thursday’s game at West Carteret for another shot at securing the conference title.

Rachel Pierce got things started in the sixth for Richlands with a single before she moved to second on an infield hit by Madison Batchelor. Pierce then scored on a single by Taylor Martin before Kelly Huffman followed with a two-run double.

After Monica Mayville reached on an error, scoring Huffman, Kylee Tucker had an infield hit. Kaldens then came up, hitting a 3-1 pitch to right-center field to bring in two runs and give the Wildcats a 7-6 lead.

“I knew that with three balls that I wanted to hit it,” Kaldens said. “I just swung and got lucky I guess.”

Kaldens, a junior, finished 2-for-3.

“Christa has come through for us so many times in clutch situations,” Lunceford said. “She goes in a slump like any other batter, but usually when I need a good hit and she’s in the lineup, I don’t worry.”

Huffman added an RBI-single in the seventh to extend Richlands’ lead to 8-6. The sixth inning, however, was certainly the difference.

“That one inning killed us,” Frank said. “What’s hard is that there were two outs. We just needed that last one.”

Down 8-6, the Pirates tried to rally as Sydney Dombrowski – who went 4-for-4 – singled with one out in the seventh. The next batter, though, flied to Batchelor, who threw to first to double off Dombrowski to end the game.

“They (the Wildcats) are good players and they don’t quit,” Lunceford said. “Just a few good things can generate a lot of good things.”

Swansboro had control of the game following a four-run fifth that put the Pirates ahead 6-1. Dombrowski had an RBI-double that inning that saw Richlands commit two errors.

Earlier in the game, Swansboro’s Andrea Heredia had a two-run single in the fourth that gave the Pirates a 2-1 lead.

“It usually takes us a few innings to get going,” Frank said. “I think we got adjusted to the pitcher.”

But the Wildcats answered with a big inning of their own, which ultimately proved the difference.

“This is a very big win,” Kaldens said. “It makes us think that we can just about beat anyone.”